Three Blind Mice and Other Stories Part 11

"Mydear,dearchildren-there'sreallynoneedtomakeitallsodifficult.Yourunclewasreallyaverysimpleman.Hehadtohavehislittlejoke,thatwasall."

Forthefirsttimetheygavehertheirfullattention."Justexactlywhatdoyoumean,MissMarple?"askedCharmian.

"Imean,dear,thatyou'reactuallyholdingthemoneyinyourhandthisminute."

Charmianstareddown.

"Thesignature,dear.Thatgivesthewholethingaway.Therecipeisjustanindication.Shornofalltheclovesandbrownsugarandtherestofit,whatisitactually?Why,gammonandspinachtobesure!Gammonandspinach!Meaning-nonsense!Soit'sclearthat.i.t'sthelettersthatareimportant.Andthen,ifyoutakeintoconsiderationwhatyouruncledidjustbeforehedied.Hetappedhiseye,yousaid.Well,thereyouare-thatgivesyoutheclue,yousee."

Charmiansaid,"Arewemad,orareyou?"

"Surely,mydear,youmusthaveheardtheexpressionmeaningthatsomethingisnotatruepicture,orhasitquitediedoutnowadays?'AllmyeyeandBettyMartin.'"

Edwardgasped,hiseyesfallingtotheletterinhishand."BettyMartin-"

"Ofcourse,MrRossiter.Asyouhavejustsaid,thereisn't-therewasn'tanysuchperson.Theletterswerewrittenbyyouruncle,andIdaresayhegotalotoffunoutofwritingthem!Asyousay,thewritingontheenvelopesismucholder-infact,theenvelopescouldn'tbelongtothelettersanyway,becausethepostmarkoftheoneyouareholdingiseighteenfifty-one."

Shepaused.Shemadeitveryemphatic:"Eighteenfifty-one.Andthatexplainseverything,doesn't.i.t?"

"Nottome,"saidEdward.

"Well,ofcourse,"saidMissMarple."Idaresayitwouldn'ttomeifitweren'tformygreat-nephewLionel.Suchadearlittleboyandapa.s.sionatestampcollector.Knowsallaboutstamps.Itwashewhotoldmeaboutrareandexpensivestampsandthatawonderfulnewfindhadcomeupforauction.AndIactuallyrememberhismentioningonestamp-an1851blue2cent.Itrealizedsomethinglike$25,000,Ibelieve.Fancy!Ishouldimaginethattheotherstampsaresomethingalsorareandexpensive.Nodoubtyouruncleboughtthroughdealersandwascarefulto'coverhistracks,'astheysayindetectivestories."

Edwardgroaned.Hesatdownandburiedhisfaceinhishands.

"What'sthematter?"demandedCharmian.

"Nothing.It'sonlytheawfulthoughtthat,butforMissMarple,wemighthaveburnedtheselettersinadecent,gentlemanlyway!"

"Ah,"saidMissMarple,"that'sjustwhattheseoldgentlemenwh.o.a.refondoftheirjokeneverrealize.MyUncleHenry,Iremember,sentafavouritenieceafive-poundnoteforaChristmaspresent.Heput.i.tinsideaChristmascard,gummedthecardtogether,andwroteonit:'Loveandbestwishes.AfraidthisisallIcanmanagethisyear.'"

"She,poorgirl,wasannoyedatwhatshethoughtwas.h.i.+smeannessandthrewitallstraightintothefire.Sothen,ofcourse,hehadtogiveheranother."

Edward'sfeelingstowardUncleHenryhadsufferedanabruptandcompletechange.

"MissMarple,"hesaid,"I'mgoingtogetabottleofchampagne.We'llalldrinkthehealthofyourUncleHenry."

Tape-MeasureMurder

MissPolitttookholdoftheknockerandrappedpolitelyonthecottagedoor.Afteradiscreetintervalsheknockedagain.Theparcelunderherleftarms.h.i.+ftedalittlea.s.shedidso,andshereadjustedit.InsidetheparcelwasMrsSpenlow'snewgreenwinterdress,readyforfitting.FromMissPolitt'slefthanddangledabagofblacksilk,containingatapemeasure,apincus.h.i.+on,andalarge,practicalpairofscissors.

MissPolittwastallandgaunt,withasharpnose,pursedlips,andmeageriron-greyhair.Shehesitatedbeforeusingtheknockerforthethirdtime.Glancingdownthestreet,shesawafigurerapidlyapproaching.MissHartnell,jolly,weather-beaten,fifty-five,shoutedoutinherusualloudba.s.svoice,"Goodafternoon,MissPolitt!"

Thedressmakeranswered,"Goodafternoon,MissHartnell."Hervoicewas.e.xcessivelythinandgenteelinitsaccents.Shehadstartedlifeasalady'smaid."Excuseme,"shewenton,"butdoyouhappentoknowifbyanychanceMrsSpenlowisn'tathome?"

"Nottheleastidea,"saidMissHartnell.

"It'sratherawkward,yousee.IwastofitonMrsSpenlow'snewdressthisafternoon.Three-thirty,shesaid."

MissHartnellconsultedherwrist.w.a.tch."It'salittlepastthehalf-hournow."

"Yes.Ihaveknockedthreetimes,b.u.t.theredoesn'tseemtobeanyanswer,soIwaswonderingifperhapsMrsSpenlowmighthavegoneoutandforgotten.Shedoesn'tforgetappointmentsasarule,andshewantsthedresstowearthedayaftertomorrow."

MissHartnellenteredthegateandwalkedupthepathtojoinMissPolittoutsidethedoorofLaburnamCottage.

"Whydoesn'tGladysanswerthedoor?"shedemanded."Oh,no,ofcourse,it'sThursday-Gladys'sdayout.IexpectMrsSpenlowhasfallenasleep.Idon'texpectyou'vemadeenoughnoisewiththisthing."

Seizingtheknocker,sheexecutedadeafeningrat-a-tat-tatand,inaddition,thumpeduponthepanelsofthedoor.Shealsocalledoutinastentorianvoice:"Whatho,withinthere!"

Therewasnoresponse.

MissPolittmurmured,"Oh,IthinkMrsSpenlowmusthaveforgottenandgoneout.I'llcallaroundsomeothertime."Shebeganedgingawayanddownthepath.

"Nonsense,"saidMissHartnellfirmly."Shecan'thavegoneout.I'dhavemether.I'lljusttakealookthroughthewindowandseeifIcanfindanysignsoflife."

Shelaughedinherusualheartymanner,toindicatethat.i.twasajoke,andappliedaperfunctoryglancetothenearestwindowpane-perfunctorybecausesheknewquitewellthatthefrontroomwa.s.seldomused.MrandMrsSpenlowpreferredthesmallbacksitting-room.

Perfunctoryasitwas,though,itsucceededinitsobject.MissHartnell,itistrue,sawnosignsoflife.Onthecontrary,shesaw,throughthewindow,MrsSpenlowlyingonthehearthrug-dead.

"Ofcourse,"saidMissHartnell,tellingthestoryafterward,"Imanagedtokeepmyhead.ThatPolittcreaturewouldn'thavehadtheleastideaofwhattodo.'Gottokeepourheads,'Isaidtoher.'YoustayhereandI'llgoforConstablePalk.'Shesaidsomethingaboutnotwantingtobeleft,butIpaidnoattentionatall.Onehastobefirmwiththatsortofperson.I'vealwaysfoundtheyenjoymakingafuss.SoIwasjustgoingoffwhen,atthatverymoment,MrSpenlowcameroundthecornerofthehouse."

HereMissHartnellmadeasignificantpause.Itenabledheraudiencetoaskbreathlessly,"Tellme,howdidhelook?"

MissHartnellwouldthengoon:"Frankly,Isuspectedsomethingatonce!Hewasfartoocalm.Hedidn'tseemsurprisedintheleast.Andyoumaysaywhatyoulike,itisn'tnaturalforamantohearthathiswifeisdeadanddisplaynoemotionwhatever."

Everybodyagreedwiththisstatement.

Thepoliceagreedwithittoo.SosuspiciousdidtheyconsiderMrSpenlow'sdetachmentthattheylostnotimeinascertaininghowthatgentlemanwa.s.situatedasaresultofhiswife'sdeath.WhentheydiscoveredthatMrsSpenlowhadbeenthemoneyedpartner,andthathermoneywenttoherhusbandunderawillmadesoonaftertheirmarriage,theyweremoresuspiciousthanever.

MissMarple,thatsweet-faced(andsomesaidvinegar-tongued)elderlyspinsterwholivedinthehousenexttotherectory,wasinterviewedveryearly-withinhalfanhourofthediscoveryofthecrime.ShewasapproachedbyPoliceConstablePalk,importantlythumbinganotebook.

"Ifyoudon'tmind,ma'am,I'veafewquestionstoaskyou."

MissMarplesaid,"InconnectionwiththemurderofMrsSpenlow?"

Palkwa.s.startled."MayIask,madam,howyougottoknowofit?"

"Thefish,"saidMissMarple.

ThereplywasperfectlyintelligibletoConstablePalk.Hea.s.sumedcorrectlythatthefishmonger'sboyhadbrought.i.t,togetherwithMissMarple'seveningmeal.

MissMarplecontinuedgently,"Lyingonthefloorinthesitting-room,strangled-possiblybyaverynarrowbelt.Butwhateveritwas,itwastakenaway."

Palk'sfacewaswrathful."HowthatyoungFredgetstoknoweverything-"

MissMarplecuthimshortadroitly.Shesaid,"There'sapininyourtunic."

ConstablePalklookeddown,startled.Hesaid,"Theydosay:'Seeapinandpickitup,allthedayyou'llhavegoodluck.'"

"Ihopethatwillcometrue.Nowwhatisityouwantmetotellyou?"

ConstablePalkclearedhisthroat,lookedimportant,andconsultedhisnotebook."StatementwasmadetomebyMrArthurSpenlow,husbandofthedeceased.MrSpenlowsaysthatattwo-thirty,asfarashecansay,hewasrungupbyMissMarpleandaskedifhewouldcomeoverataquarterpastthree,a.s.shewasanxioustoconsulthimaboutsomething.Now,ma'am,isthattrue?"

"Certainlynot,"saidMissMarple.

"YoudidnotringupMrSpenlowattwo-thirty?"

"Neitherattwo-thirtynoranyothertime."

"Ah,"saidConstablePalk,andsuckedhismoustachewithagooddealofsatisfaction.

"WhatelsedidMrSpenlowsay?"

"MrSpenlow'sstatementwasthathecameoverhereasrequested,leavinghisownhouseattenminutespastthree;thatonarrivalherehewasinformedbythemaidservantthatMissMarplewasnotathome."

"Thatpartofitistrue,"saidMissMarple."Hedidcomehere,butIwasatameetingattheWomen'sInst.i.tute."

"Ah,"saidConstablePalkagain.

MissMarpleexclaimed,"Dotellme,Constable,doyoususpectMrSpenlow?"

"It'snotformetosayatthisstage,but.i.tlookstomeasthoughsomebody,namingnonames,hadbeentryingtobeartful."

MissMarplesaidthoughtfully,"MrSpenlow?"

ShelikedMrSpenlow.Hewasasmall,spareman,stiffandconventionalinspeech,theacmeofrespectability.Itseemedoddthatheshouldhavecometoliveinthecountry;hehadsoclearlylivedintownsallhislife.ToMissMarpleheconfidedthereason.

Hesaid,"Ihavealwaysintended,eversinceIwasasmallboy,toliveinthecountrysomedayandhaveagardenofmyown.Ihavealwaysbeenverymuchattachedtoflowers.Mywife,youknow,keptaflowershop.That'swhereIsawherfirst."

Adrystatement,but.i.topenedupavistaofromance.Ayounger,prettierMrsSpenlow,seenagainstabackgroundofflowers.

MrSpenlow,however,reallyknewnothingaboutflowers.Hehadnoideaofseeds,ofcuttings...o...b..ddingout,ofannualsorperennials.Hehadonlyavision-avisionofasmallcottagegardenthicklyplantedwithsweet-smelling,brightlycolouredblossoms.Hehadasked,almostpathetically,forinstructionandhadnoteddownMissMarple'srepliestoquestionsinalittlebook.

Hewasamanofquietmethod.Itwas,perhaps,becauseofthistraitthatthepolicewereinterestedinhimwhenhiswifewasfoundmurdered.WithpatienceandperseverancetheylearnedagooddealaboutthelateMrsSpenlow-andsoonallStMaryMeadknewittoo.

ThelateMrsSpenlowhadbegunlifeasabetween-maidinalargehouse.ShehadleftthatpositiontomarrythesecondgardenerandwithhimhadstartedaflowershopinLondon.Theshophadprospered.Notsothegardener,whobeforelonghadsickenedanddied.

Hiswidowcarriedontheshopandenlargeditinanambitiousway.Shehadcontinuedtoprosper.Thenshehadsoldthebusinessatahandsomepriceandembarkeduponmatrimonyforthesecondtime-withMrSpenlow,amiddle-agedjewellerwhohadinheritedasmallandstrugglingbusiness.NotlongafterwardtheyhadsoldthebusinessandcomedowntoStMaryMead.

MrsSpenlowwasawell-to-dowoman.Theprofitsfromherflorist'sestablishmentshehadinvested-"underspiritguidance,"a.s.sheexplainedtoallandsundry.Thespiritshadadvisedherwithunexpectedac.u.men.

Allherinvestmentshadprospered,someinquiteasensationalfas.h.i.+on.Instead,however,ofthisincreasingherbeliefinspiritualism,MrsSpenlowbaselydesertedmediumsandsittingsandmadeabriefbutwholeheartedplungeintoan.o.bscurereligionwithIndianaffinitieswhichwasbasedonvariousformsofdeepbreathing.When,however,shearrivedatStMaryMead,shehadrelapsedintoaperiodoforthodoxChurch-of-Englandbeliefs.ShewasagooddealattheVicarageandattendedchurchserviceswitha.s.siduity.Shepatronisedthevillageshops,tookaninterestinthelocalhappenings,andplayedvillagebridge.

Ahumdrum,everydaylife.And-suddenly-murder.

ColonelMelchett,thechiefconstable,hadsummonedInspectorSlack.

Slackwasapositivetypeofman.Whenhemadeuphismind,hewa.s.sure.Hewasquitesurenow."Husbanddidit,sir,"hesaid.

"Youthinkso?"

"Quitesureofit.You'veonlygottolookathim.Nevershowedasignofgrieforemotion.Hecamebacktothehouseknowingshewasdead."

"Wouldn'theatleasthavetriedtoactthepartofthedistractedhusband?"

"Nothim,sir.Toopleasedwithhimself.Somegentlemencan'tact.Toostiff.AsIseeit,hewasjustfedupwithhiswife.She'dgotthemoneyand,Ishouldsay,wasatryingwomantolivewith-alwaystakingupsome'ism'orother.Hecold-bloodedlydecidedtodoawaywithherandlivecomfortablyonhisown."

"Yes,thatcouldbethecase,Isuppose."

"Dependuponit,thatwasit.Madehisplanscareful.Pretendedtogetaphonecall-"

Melchettinterruptedhim:"Nocallertraced?"

"No,sir.Thatmeanseitherthatheliedorthatthecallwasputthroughfromapublictelephonebooth.Theonlytwopublicphonesinthevillageareatthestationandthepostoffice.Postofficeitcertainlywasn't.MrsBladeseeseveryonewhocomesin.Stationitmightbe.Trainarrivesattwotwenty-sevenandthere'sabitofbustlethen.b.u.t.themainthingishesaysitwasMissMarplewhocalledhimup,andthatcertainlyisn'ttrue.Thecalldidn'tcomefromherhouse,andsheherselfwasawayattheInst.i.tute."

"You'renotoverlookingthepossibilitythatthehusbandwasdeliberatelygotoutoftheway-bysomeonewhowantedtomurderMrsSpenlow?"

"You'rethinkingofyoungTedGerard,aren'tyou,sir?I'vebeenworkingonhim-whatwe'reupagainstthereislackofmotive.Hedoesn'tstandtogainanything."

"He'sanundesirablecharacter,though.Quiteaprettylittlespotofembezzlementtohiscredit."

"I'mnotsayingheisn'tawrong'un.Still,hedidgotohisbossandownuptothatembezzlement.Andhisemployersarewisetoit."

"AnOxfordGrouper,"saidMelchett.

"Yes,sir.Becameaconvertandwentofftodothestraightthingandownuptohavingpinchedmoney.I'mnotsaying,mindyou,that.i.tmayn'thavebeenastuteness-hemayhavethoughthewa.s.suspectedanddecidedtogambleonhonestrepentance."

"Youhaveaskepticalmind,Slack,"saidColonelMelchett."Bytheway,haveyoutalkedtoMissMarpleatall?"

"What'sshegottodowithit,sir?"

"Oh,nothing.Butshehearsthings,youknow.Whydon'tyougoandhaveachatwithher?She'saverysharpoldlady."

Slackchangedthesubject.

"OnethingI'vebeenmeaningtoaskyou,sir:Thatdomesticservicejobwherethedeceasedstartedhercareer-SirRobertAbercrombie'splace.That'swherethejewelrobberywas-emeralds-worthapacket.Nevergotthem.I'vebeenlookingitup-musthavehappenedwhentheSpenlowwomanwasthere,thoughshe'dhavebeenquiteagirlatthetime.Don'tthinkshewasmixedupinit,doyou,sir?Spenlow,youknow,wasoneofthoselittletuppenny-ha'pennyjewellers-justthechapforafence."

Melchettshookhishead.